If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by a drugged driver, you might feel overwhelmed and unsure how to proceed. An accident caused by a drugged driver can have devastating consequences, from significant injuries, medical bills, and lost wages to emotional trauma, pain, and suffering.
An Indianapolis car accident lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation for your accident-related losses. Reach out to Hankey Marks & Crider today to learn more about how we can help you. Call us at (317) 634-8565 or contact us online for a free legal consultation.
What Is Drugged Driving?
Drugged driving, also known as driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), refers to operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of a drug or combination of drugs. Drugged driving is considered a criminal offense in every state and can have serious consequences, such as jail time, fines, and even the loss of a driver’s license.
Drugs that can cause impaired driving can range from substances like marijuana and cocaine to prescription painkillers. It is important to note that even over-the-counter medications can cause drugged driving if taken with alcohol or other drugs. Drugged driving is especially dangerous because it can be difficult for law enforcement to detect, unlike alcohol impairment. The effects of these drugs vary depending on the type of drug taken, but all can lead to impaired judgment and reaction time.
What Drugs Put a Person at Risk for DUID Driving?
Drivers should know that taking any substance that can alter judgment or reaction time when operating a vehicle can be dangerous and that it is illegal for any driver to operate a vehicle with any amount of an illicit drug in their system. Common drugs that can impair a driver’s reaction time, concentration, and coordination include alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, prescription medications (such as sleeping pills, painkillers, and anti-anxiety medications), and certain over-the-counter medicines (such as cold and allergy medications).
The Effects of Driving Drugged
Drugs of all kinds, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, illegal drugs, and even some herbal remedies, can affect a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle safely. Driving drugged can also affect coordination, concentration, vision, reaction time, judgment, and decision-making skills. In addition, driving while impaired by drugs may cause a person to become confused or disoriented or to struggle with basic tasks like operating the vehicle’s lights and signals or judging speed and distance.
In addition to impairing a driver’s ability to react quickly and appropriately on the road, drug use can lead to other dangerous driving behaviors, such as driving erratically or weaving between lanes, and can have unpredictable effects on a person’s perception of their ability to drive safely. Even if the driver does not appear impaired, law enforcement may still make an arrest based on drugs in their system.
Drugged Driving Statistics
Drugged driving is an increasing problem in the United States, with more and more states reporting incidents of impaired driving due to drugs. Recently, 12.6 million people aged 16 and up in the US drove after using illicit drugs. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 56 percent of drivers involved in fatal and serious injury car accidents tested positive for drugs for one year. In addition, the NHTSA also reported a 48 percent increase in drivers testing positive for marijuana in less than ten years.
Frequent Injuries in Drugged Driving Car Accidents
Drugged car accidents result in the same types of injuries that occur in other vehicular accidents. These injuries could be minor or they could be so significant as to change the injured person’s life permanently. Accident-related injuries could include:
- Lacerations
- Contusions
- Whiplash
- Concussion
- Fractures
- Internal bleeding
- Amputations
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Paralysis
- Disfigurement
Whether these injuries are minor and heal quickly or they result in permanent impairment, if someone else’s wrongdoing injured you, you should pursue compensation for all your losses.
The Legal Options for Victims of Drugged Driving
When a person is injured in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of drugs, they might be eligible to pursue legal action against the responsible party. They can file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance carrier or a lawsuit against the at-fault party.
In either the claim or lawsuit, the injured person could be eligible to seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Property damage
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
An experienced Indianapolis auto accident lawyer will be able to provide legal advice on the best course of action to take and represent the injured party in any necessary legal proceedings.
Compensation Available to Victims of Drugged Driving
When a person is injured in a car accident caused by a driver under the influence of drugs, they might be eligible to pursue legal action against the responsible party. The injured person could be eligible to seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Anxiety
- PTSD
- Property damage
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
An experienced Indianapolis auto accident lawyer will be able to provide legal advice on the best course of action to take and represent the injured party in any necessary legal proceedings.
How Long Do You Have to File a Lawsuit?
Injuries you sustain in a car accident caused by a drugged driver and settlement negotiations with the insurance company break down or fail, you and your lawyer could decide that a lawsuit is the next step to take. Indiana law provides a specific time period for filing a personal injury lawsuit in its statute of limitations. You have two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Should you file your lawsuit after the statutory period has expired, the court will likely dismiss your case. If that happens, you will lose your opportunity to pursue the compensation you need through the court system.
Speak with an Indianapolis Drugged Driving Car Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in an accident a drugged driver caused, you should seek the assistance of an experienced Indianapolis drugged driving car accident lawyer. At Hankey Marks & Crider, our compassionate legal team can guide you through the legal process and help you understand your rights.
Our attorneys will thoroughly investigate the accident and its circumstances and pursue the compensation you deserve for your accident-related injuries and losses. We are dedicated to providing our clients with aggressive, honest legal representation and will answer any questions or concerns you may have.
At Hankey Marks & Crider, we believe that no victim of drugged driving should suffer alone. If you were injured due to the actions of a drugged driver, contact us today by calling (317) 634-8565 for a free consultation.